The Fall of Babylon, Revelation 18:2-24

The fall of the system of man happens very quickly and also at the same time the fall of Satan.

God has two very different messages, one of concern and love for the saints and one of horror or woe for the non-saints.

Babylon is heading for total destruction.

Background Reading:

The Vision of the Fall of Babylon

18:2 The Angel cried out in a powerful voice,

“Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen!

She has become a home for demons.

She is a prison for every unclean spirit,

a prison for every unclean bird,

and a prison for every unclean

and hated beast.

3 For all the nations have drunk

from the wine of her sexual immorality,

and the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her.

The world’s businesses have become rich

from her luxurious excesses.”

The Warning to Leave Babylon

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,

“Come out of her, my people,

so that you don’t participate in her sins

and also suffer from her diseases.

5 For her sins are piled as high as heaven,

and God has remembered her crimes.

6 Do to her as she herself has done,

and give her double for her deeds.

Mix a double drink for her in the cup she mixed.

7 Just as she glorified herself and lived in luxury,

inflict on her just as much torture and misery.

In her heart she says,

‘I am a queen on a throne, not a widow.

I will never see misery.’

8 For this reason, her diseases that result in death, misery, and famine

will come in a single day.

She will be burned up in a fire,

because powerful is the Lord God who judges her.”

9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality with her and lived in luxury with her, will cry and mourn over her when they see the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. 10 Frightened by the torture that she experiences, they will stand far away and cry out,

15 Frightened by the severity of her punishment, businesses that had become rich because of her will stand at a distance, crying and mourning:

16 “How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city

that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet

and was adorned with gold, gems, and pearls,

17 because all this wealth has been destroyed in a single hour!”

Every ship’s captain, everyone who traveled by ship, sailors, and everyone who made a living from the sea stood far away. 18 When they saw the smoke rising from the fire that consumed her, they began to cry out, “What city was like that great city?” 19 Then they threw dust on their heads and shouted while crying and mourning:

“How terrible, how terrible it is for the great city,

where all who had ships at sea became rich from her wealth,

because it has been destroyed in a single hour!

20 Be happy about her, heaven, saints, apostles, and prophets,

for God has condemned her for you!”

The Vision of the Powerful Angel with the Millstone

21 Then a powerful angel picked up a stone that was like a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,